Hi everyone.
This really seems to be a great site to find out just about anything.
I am a 30 year old American woman who is currently getting a Master's in Intercultural Communication and Teaching English as a Second Language. As part of my degree, I have to spend some time working abroad. I am exremely well-traveled, have spent more than 6 years living and working abroad, and speak fluent Spanish (though my written Spanish can be painful). I consider myself very street smart, but I will certainly stick out like a sore thumb in the DR as I am a fair, blue-eyed, obviously not, Dominican woman.
Now that you have an idea of where I am coming from, here's my question...
For my practicum (which should be 3-6 months), I want to do a combination of working with orphans and teaching English. I really like the Punta Cana area and know some people there, but they are Dominican and I need some advice from people who know where I am coming from... I know of an orphanage in Higuey and also one in La Romana. Does anyone know about these places and how I can start talking to them about working with them a year from now? Also, I will need to find a long-term rental apartment in a secure location. Since I will basically be volunteering at the orphanage, it needs to be relatively affordable, but the important thing is safety. Ideally, I would like to be somewhat close to the beach.
Yes, I do have a boyfriend in the DR, but he is not why I may go there. If I go, he will just be a plus. This is not a Sankie/gringa relationship and I am not concerned about that aspect of this experience. I am also currently looking into going to Costa Rica or Thailand (kind of a random addition, eh?).
So, for those of your who know the Punta Cana area (or even La Romana), what are you thoughts on a single woman doing plilanthropic work down there for a few months?
Thanks.
Andrea
Boston, MA
This really seems to be a great site to find out just about anything.
I am a 30 year old American woman who is currently getting a Master's in Intercultural Communication and Teaching English as a Second Language. As part of my degree, I have to spend some time working abroad. I am exremely well-traveled, have spent more than 6 years living and working abroad, and speak fluent Spanish (though my written Spanish can be painful). I consider myself very street smart, but I will certainly stick out like a sore thumb in the DR as I am a fair, blue-eyed, obviously not, Dominican woman.
Now that you have an idea of where I am coming from, here's my question...
For my practicum (which should be 3-6 months), I want to do a combination of working with orphans and teaching English. I really like the Punta Cana area and know some people there, but they are Dominican and I need some advice from people who know where I am coming from... I know of an orphanage in Higuey and also one in La Romana. Does anyone know about these places and how I can start talking to them about working with them a year from now? Also, I will need to find a long-term rental apartment in a secure location. Since I will basically be volunteering at the orphanage, it needs to be relatively affordable, but the important thing is safety. Ideally, I would like to be somewhat close to the beach.
Yes, I do have a boyfriend in the DR, but he is not why I may go there. If I go, he will just be a plus. This is not a Sankie/gringa relationship and I am not concerned about that aspect of this experience. I am also currently looking into going to Costa Rica or Thailand (kind of a random addition, eh?).
So, for those of your who know the Punta Cana area (or even La Romana), what are you thoughts on a single woman doing plilanthropic work down there for a few months?
Thanks.
Andrea
Boston, MA